The role of the media is fundamental to global efforts against HIV/AIDS misinformation and stigma, as well as shaping HIV-related policy and public perception of people living with the virus. Well-informed and responsible (professional) news reporting helps create an environment where these sensitive issues are addressed with greater openness and responsiveness –- a growing necessity in a country where more than 6 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. This HIV/AIDS reporting training program is thus designed to help journalists develop the specific skills and attitudes necessary to report on HIV/AIDS issues in Nigeria.

Through established partnerships with Lagos-based print and broadcast organizations, NigeriaHIVinfo.com will host professional journalists at their office in Ikeja to report on HIV/AIDS issues for both the web site and each journalist’s respective outlet. Because NigeriaHIVinfo.com sees the mainstream media as a collaborator as opposed to a competitor, material produced during the internship will be published in both to increase the scope of readership and ultimately, the spread of information.

Internships will last for 4 weeks and be offered to five journalists at a time from one of each outlet: television, radio, newspaper, magazine and photojournalism. On internship, guest journalists will undergo on-the-job training by reporting exclusively on HIV/AIDS issues, both by their own initiative and under the editor’s direction. An in-house media trainer from a partner NGO, Journalists for Human Rights Canada, will work with participants to help develop the specific skills and attitudes necessary to report on HIV/AIDS issues. Each journalist will be expected to produce four reports (one each week) for NigeriaHIVinfo.com and their parent media organization.

Under the guidance of both the in-house media specialist and HIV/AIDS expert, journalists will receive training on the basic protocols of human rights and specialized health reporting. Workshop-style skill development will examine investigative reporting and research methodologies, the impact of language and presentation, and source selection, amongst others. Instruction on the social, economic, clinical and statistical realities of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria will also form part of the core program curriculum.

• Eligibility

Any professional Nigerian reporter working for a newspaper, magazine, radio or television station or as a photographer is eligible to apply. Freelance reporters are not eligible to submit an application for this training. All applicants must have the written consent of their editors in order to apply.

• Criteria

Applicants should be professional journalists with demonstrated interest and/or experience in HIV/AIDS or public health reporting. Applicants must have the written permission of their editors to be released from the office one (1) day a week, as well as agree to attend the training portion of the program each Saturday of the month. Failure of successful applicants to meet this two-day commitment will not receive a stipend or course completion certification.

• Submission Letter

Applicants must submit a one-page letter answering the following questions:

1. What is the role of the media in spreading information about HIV/AIDS issues, and how well (or not) does the media in Nigeria perform this duty?
   
2. What do you hope to learn from this course?
   
3. How will you incorporate this training into your daily work once you return to the newsroom?
   
4. Pitch one brief but original story idea relating to HIV/AIDS issues in Nigeria.

• Deadline for Submission of Entries

Applicants wishing to be part of the first batch of interns (May program) must submit their application by April 21, 2006. Final deadline for the submission of application for the remaining programs (June - August) is May 10, 2006.

• Selection

Participants shall be selected based on the relevance of their application to the program objectives. We shall also consider the level of professionalism and interests displayed. Shortlisted applicants will be expected to undergo a short interview with NigeriaHIVinfo.com staff to ensure their eligibility for the program.

• Sponsors

This training program is mainly funded by the Health Journalism Partnership (HJP) small grants programme. The Health Journalism Partnership Small Grants Programme is a joint initiative of Internews Network, ICFJ, and Panos London.

 

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